CHIANG RAI – Following the deaths of two children Manassanan “Nong Oey” Thongphu, aged 3 and Suriyakarn Thakan aged 3 who died of excessive heat exposure after being locked in vehicles, the Interior Ministry has instructed relevant agencies in all provinces to take extra precaution in ensuring students’ safety.

The ministry has forwarded orders to provincial offices as well as educational units in a bid to prevent the repeat of the tragic incidents.

In April, Manassanan “Nong Oey” Thongphu who was left in a van for several hours outside her kindergarten in Samut Prakan, died after spending two weeks in a coma. Her death was followed that of a three-year-old kindergarten student Suriyakarn Thakan in Si Sa Ket who was killed from being locked in a truck for seven hours.

The Public Health Ministry has also issued guidelines for first-aid care following the deaths. The ministry confirmed that these toddlers were killed by extreme cases of heat strokes. Once a person or a child is locked inside a vehicle for over 30 minutes, they will likely suffer extensive organ damage and stop breathing.

The ministry advised that in the event of children being left unsupervised in a car for a long period of time, members of the public are urged to call the 1669 hotline before removing children from the vehicle as soon as possible. If necessary, a CPR needs to be administered on the unconscious child.